US Engages in First-Ever Direct Talks with Hamas Over Gaza Hostages

The unprecedented negotiations aim to secure the release of American captives while Israel tightens its blockade on Gaza.

Adam Boehler, nominated as the US special envoy for hostage affairs, has held direct talks with Hamas in Qatar, breaking a decades-long US policy of non-engagement with the group.
The discussions are focused on freeing hostages, including Edan Alexander, the last known living American captive held by Hamas, alongside the remains of four other US citizens.
Israel has halted humanitarian aid shipments to Gaza, citing concerns over aid diversion to Hamas, as negotiations for extending a fragile ceasefire remain deadlocked.
Hamas has rejected Israel’s proposal to extend the truce without further prisoner exchanges, while international criticism mounts over Israel's use of aid as leverage.
The Trump administration’s direct engagement with Hamas has drawn mixed reactions, with Israel expressing reservations about the approach and Arab states rejecting Trump’s broader Gaza redevelopment plan.